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Ford inhales the crisp night air, closing the front door behind him as another gust of wind billows his hair back.
He makes his way through the woods, heavy boots snapping the stray twigs and branches beneath him as he navigates the forest and overgrowth of the bushes.
He stops when he notices a group of flowers native to gravity falls, only ever blooming on full moons.
As carefully as possible he removes the flower from its stem and puts it away in his coat safely.
The atmosphere shifts as a gentle rain starts to fall from the dark clouds, but he continues on his way anyway, trudging the familiar path. He can see the deepest part of the forest up ahead and enters with no hesitation, the wind howling and the leaves getting wet with the rain that starts to turn to a complete downpour.
“Muse?” Ford calls out, hoping to get a good idea where his…friend is. Sometimes they like to play hide and seek with him despite the fact Bill doesn’t seem to know how to works. He does now how to scare the heebie-jeebies out of him though even if it’s not purposeful.
Having a ten foot tall eldritch horror as a companion does have its ups and downs.
Ford continues to search through the greenery, sighing heavily. The thunder roars and the rain comes down in sheets, earning a loud yelp from him.
In a matter of seconds the rain is no longer pelting him and he looks up with a shiver, his eyes meeting Bill’s unnatural yellow ones as they block the human from the onslaught of freezing rain.
“You called?” He purrs, eyes softening at the sight of the mere man below.
“Yes, I— that was at least ten minutes ago, Muse.” Ford sighs, but still smiles gratefully. “Thank you for the assistance.”
“Always, Fordsy.” Bill reaches out a clawed hand, picking Ford up easily and climbing the tree above like a spider. He reaches the top, a small hollow tucked inside the trunk and sets him down, eyes searching his wet form.
Ford finds himself trying to straighten up his soaked clothes, face heating up.
He’s not embarrassed for looking like this. Not at all!
He’s just very…aware of what his muse thinks of him.
The last thing he wants to look like is a bumbling fool.
Bill hums, flicking his wrist and a wave of heat hits Ford, so strong it sends him staggering, but when it fades his clothing and hair is completely dry.
“Thank you, Muse. You’re wonderful.” Ford blushes, smiling graciously at him. “I um, got you something.”
“Oh? You did?” Bill raises an eyebrow, leaning in further, his wings shifting through the darkness.
Ford produces the single flower awkwardly, heart racing in his chest.
“A flower? You flatter me, Sixer.” They hum, taking the delicate plant and tucking it in the white streaks of his hair. “Care for a game of chess?” he pushes the board forward, eyes gleaming in a pleased way although Ford isn’t sure if it’s because of the flower or the prospect of the game.
He grins anyway, nodding. He sits down cross-legged in front of the eldritch demon, immersing himself in the game. This time it’s normal. Sometimes Bill likes to shake things up, but tonight is just good old fashioned chess.
He sort of misses the flare they like to add.
Dead rats, runes, turning the pawns to life. He’s pretty sure he once saw Bill eating the game pieces as well.
Doesn’t matter. As long as he’s with them, he’s happy.
After the fifteenth round of chess Ford looks up at his muse, the creature’s tails curled up and ears up in glee, teeth bared in a wide, unwavering smile.
It looks like he could play this all night.
To be honest Ford almost feels the same way.
There is something else he wants to do though.
“Bill…would you like to watch the stars with me? Now that the storm has cleared up.”
Bill pauses for a moment before nodding and the two of them sit on a thick branch, overlooking the night sky.
The air still smells fresh and the cold atmosphere burns Ford’s lungs, but he brings his eyes to the heavens anyway.
There’s only a few stars in the sky, but he points them out all the same.
“My kind was terrified of the stars.” Bill whispers and Ford turns to him. “Why? They’re beautiful.”
“They’re also a sign that there could be something more than this existence. That possibility, it terrified them. I was banned from looking at the stars….I watched them anyway. I climbed the tallest, most impossible peak to get a glimpse of them.”
“Did your kind ever understand them like you did?” Ford asks, reaching out to the nearest star, belonging to the Big Dipper.
“Maybe. I wasn’t there when they were killed. Maybe they saw them before they were hunted down. Wouldn’t that be the kicker.” Bill murmurs, turning to him.
“Muse- your kind was…” Ford trails off when he notices the eldritch creature’s shoulders arch and ears flatten. “I mean, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that you’ll never know.” he reaches out, hesitantly taking Bill’s giant cat like paws and pressing a kiss to them, carefully avoiding the giant, razor sharp claws.
Bill blinks owlishly and leans down, returning the favor but against Ford’s neck.
A shiver goes through the human’s spine and his hands grip the back of the creature’s suit, arms looped around him.
Ford is pinned against the wood in seconds and his shoulders and back arch, lips meeting Bill’s mouth, his teeth just grazing their lips.
His heart jumps in his throat and he can’t help but be carried away in the overwhelming sense of euphoria.
The rain starts to come down in sheets again, but he doesn’t care.
He just feels warm.